My favorite players of the week were…

Offense

Charlie Heck 49ers tackle

The 49ers offensive line is a mess due to injuries.  4-time All-Pro Trent Williams left tackle is among those out with injuries.  The 49ers were so low on linemen that they signed Heck off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad a few days before starting him at left tackle against the Lions.  Heck didn’t seem bothered by the lack of practice with the team.  He had no penalties & allowed no sacks.  He also did a good job run blocking.  That performance should get him a roster spot with a team next year.

Malik Nabers Giants receiver

Ricky Piersall had an incredible game with 8 catches for 141 yards & a touchdown, a 17.6 yard per catch average.  In most weeks that would have made him my choice as a receiver, but somehow Malik Nabers with Drew Lock throwing to him recorded 171 yards & 2 touchdowns on only 7 catches!  That was good for 24.4 yards per reception as the Giants stunned the Colts 45-33.

Drew Lock Giants quarterback

Lock was 17 for 23 for 309 yards, 4 touchdowns & 0 interceptions against the Colts, who had to win to stay in the playoff race.

Joe Burrow Bengals quarterback

The Bengals are probably going to miss the playoffs this year.  They need to beat the Steelers, which seems possible, but that isn’t enough. The Jets & the shell of Aaron Rodgers would have to beat the Dolphins & the Chiefs, who are resting their starters would need to beat Denver with Carson Wentz at quarterback.  It’s too bad.  After losing their first games, the team has been playing great this year & Burrow is having the kind of season that wins MVP votes.  He threw for 412 yards and 3 touchdowns to go with a 1-yard touchdown run.  The Bengals won 30-24 over Denver in overtime.  Burrow extended his record streak of games with over 250 yards passing & 3 touchdowns or more to 8 in a row.

Saquon Barkley Eagles running back

Barkley led the league this week with 167 yards rushing.  He also topped the 2,000 yard mark for the season.  He is only 101 yards away from the all-time season record, but the Eagles have announced that they will rest starters for their final game going into the playoffs.  It must hurt to come so close to one of the all-time records & not even have the chance to go for it.

Baker Mayfield Buccaneers quarterback

Mayfield threw 5 touchdowns with only 5 incompletions against the Panthers.  He completed 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards with no interceptions.

Defense

Zach Allen Broncos defensive end

The Broncos lost in overtime, but Allen had a day.  He racked up 3.5 sacks of Joe Burrow.  That jumped his season from 4.5 to 8 sacks.

Tyrel Dodson Dolphins linebacker

Dodson led the league in tackles for the week with 15.  He also had an interception in Miami’s 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles

Gardner-Johnson returned one of his 2 interceptions 69 yards for a touchdown as the Eagles crushed the Cowboys 41-7.

Ahkello Witherspoon Rams cornerback

Witherspoon made a diving interception on a deflected ball in the endzone with 37 seconds left to play to seal the 13-9 victory over the Cardinals.  The play was reviewed by the officials since the ball touched the ground, but the call was upheld.  He also had 6 tackles & 2 passes defended.

Special teams

Ihmir Smith-Marsette Giants receiver

Smith-Marsette had a 100-yard kickoff-return touchdown against the Colts in their win.

Michael Hoecht Rams linebacker

Hoecht blocked his 3rd kick of the year against the Cardinals.  He blocked the extra point attempt in the 3rd quarter.

My favorite wine of the week is…

Henschke Julius Eden Valley Riesling 2022 $55

100% Riesling 12.5% ABV

Johann Christian Henschke planted a small vineyard in the Barossa’s Eden Valley in the early 1860.  He initially made wine for friends & family, with the first recorded sale of Henschke wine in 1868.  Today 5^th generation winemaker Stephen Henschke carries on this tradition.  His wife Prue Henschke is the viticulturist.  Their son Johann also works as a winemaker & viticulturist with 2 other children involved in the family business.

After Stephen & Prue graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1973, they moved to Germany, the home of Riesling, for 2 years of work & study. 

The winery has won numerous awards for its commitment to sustainability.  Their most famous wine is the Hill of Grace Shiraz, which sells for $700-$1,000 at retail & in auctions.

The Julius is a bit more affordable & well worth the $55 price tag.  It is named after Albert Julius Henschke (1888-1955), a highly acclaimed artist and sculptor.  2022 was the 30^th year of production for the wine. It’s a simply made wine, just stainless-steel tank fermentation without malolactic conversion, but it is made with grapes from 50-year-old vines & that makes a huge difference.

The wine smells strongly of lime & floral notes with some lemon as well.  On the palate there is a distinct lime pith flavor that I always associate with Australian Riesling.  It also shows fresh kefir lime juice, Meyer lemon, green apple, & a minerality (something like oyster shells?) that lingers on the long tart finish.  The acidity is almost electric & not only gives the wine structure but also helps it to age.  This is a wine that can be enjoyed the day after bottling, or 10 years later. While many Rieslings are sweet, this is dead dry. Try it with fried chicken or calamari.

400 cases were made, with 80 imported to the US.